Myth: Copyright Theft, Apple Stole GUI from Xerox PARC Alto

Mini-Myth: Xerox Opened Its Doors To Anyone

Myth:
“In 1979, Xerox threw open its doors to anyone in the industry and press, who might be interested in seeing their developments. Several Apple Computer employees, including Steve Jobs, visited Xerox PARC that day.” Microsoft also visited, resulting in Windows.

Fact:
Apple’s access / demo of the Xerox technology was arranged by Xerox venture capitalist, not through an industry-wide open house. (The Xerox Apple demo was a private demonstration that Microsoft was not involved in).

Responding to the question, “How did Steven Jobs know of the existence of the GUI at Xerox in the first place? How was he able to convince Xerox to show the GUI to him and his team?”

Mark Stephens aka Robert X. Cringely, a regular writer for The New York Times, Newsweek, Forbes, and author of the PBS documentary film Triumph of the Nerds confirms it: “Xerox had a small venture capital investment in Apple. A Xerox VC set up the meeting and pushed-through the deal.” [4]

“Microsoft later copied [Apple Macintosh] to create Windows.” [1]

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So can we say Apple copied the ideas already in place at xerox then going on to later refine them? Seems like a normal process to me. Why are we apple users so brainwashed into thinking that Jobs et al were/are somehow above all. That they are God like and free of any wrong doing. That their ideas are exclusive and if they are not their own, they really should be credited with them anyway. In my opinion, Apple have become a fairly ruthless bunch that support open standards when it suits and generally speak in ‘double speak’. That said they do make cool stuff, but so do other companies! Thanks